I might have missed it, but in case anyone wants a short tutorial on picking up and dropping the slate, here it is. I have talked to a number of people that were confused.

1. You pick up the slate the first time by clicking on the slate at the pedestal (click when the slate icon appears). The slate will then go to the bottom of the screen.

2. Once you have it at the bottom of the screen, you can either drop it on the ground (clicking the edge of the slate when you get the slate icon with the DOWN arrow) or bring it up to write upon (clicking lower, on the face of the slate when you get the open hand icon).

3. Once it is brought up to write upon, you have three choices. You can drop the slate to the ground (click the icon of the slate with a DOWN arrow on it) or you can put it back in your belt (clicking in the bottom center zone with the pointed finger icon) or you can write on it by LEFT-CLICKING and dragging the round icon. If you drop it, the slate glows a bluish glow on the ground.

4. You can pick up the slate again by simply walking over it.

Can't wait for the game! Nice to see so many familiar names so interested already!